Carrie Langley, Burkely Communities LLC, Greensboro, N.C.
1. Beware of Blisters. When you are walking in the footsteps of great leaders such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John F. Kennedy, you better wear comfortable shoes. A city block on Capitol Hill seems shorter than it is. Imagine walking 20 blocks in heels. Ouch!
2. Give to Get. Supporting the NAA Political Action Committee (NAAPAC) and my local PAC is an investment in myself and the industry, not a donation. NAAPAC supports candidates who represent good government and help support the multifamily industry. Who wouldn’t want to support their own career?
3. Every Voice Counts. Record-breaking attendance means a louder collective voice. In 2011, 479 participants attended the Capitol Conference, 124 of which
were first-time attendees. The more advocates we have, the more people
we reach and the bigger difference we will make.
4.Lobby, Lobby, Lobby. That means more than just sending mass e-mails to your legislator. The Grassroots Program assists industry members in advocating pro-rental housing issues effectively. You can join this network by logging on to http://www.naahq.org/governmentaffairs/naaadvocacy/grassroots/ and clicking on Join Our Team.
5. Go to the Capitol for More Capital. One way for the industry to make money is to be aware of the lobbying process and get involved. Every minute of time and every penny spent on lobbying efforts is time and money spent in an effort to influence policy decisions. There are 535 men and women making decisions that cost us money. It is well worth our efforts to speak with them if it means we can influence decision-makers and advance our cause.
6. We Want the Same Things. North Carolina and California are not that different after all. Meeting property management professionals from all over the country who have dealt with everything from bed bugs to lead-paint inspections provided me with new insight on industry-wide challenges.
7. Look at the Bigger Picture. We often address the daily needs of our residents at the site level by fixing a toilet, delivering packages or providing coffee and snacks. The Capitol Conference highlighted some of the greater issues affecting our renters—housing finance reform, balanced housing and energy efficiency.
8. It’s Fun When You’re Right. It’s satisfying to say “I told you so” to legislators when it comes to balanced housing. The multifamily housing industry did not contribute to the housing crisis our country is facing by overbuilding during the housing boom. In this decade, renters could make up half of all new households—that’s 7 million new renter households. This means we need financing for new apartment construction so that people who choose to rent will have that option.
9. Impress Your Legislator. Our state representative led our small group on a spur-of-the-moment tour of the Capitol, where we got to watch a bill being presented to Congress, sit in the House Chamber and stand in the very center of the Capitol. That was well worth all the walking involved on Lobby Day!
10. Express Yourself. It’s amazing to live in a country where we can meet with our nation’s leaders and potentially influence their decisions about issues that are important to us. Being a part of “democracy in action” empowered me. Who is going to fight for the industry’s needs if we don’t do it ourselves?
If you would like to be considered for a future End Points column, please contact Lauren Boston at 703/797-0678 or lauren@naahq.org.